The City of Prague has taken over administration of the Opencard – the
multi-purpose transit pass with more than one million registered users.
Until now, administration of the system was run by eMoneyServices but an IT
team at City Hall has taken over operation of the system software after
City Hall and the firm failed to reach a deal on future cooperation.

“Our IT department on Saturday evening cut off external support from
eMoneyServices and as of now is in control of all maintenance and system
support with the help of IT specialists.”

But eMoneyServices warned that City Hall was taking a major risk; the
Czech News Agency on Monday reported that while Prague can administer the
card using existing software, failing to prolong the license meant
specialists could not alter the existing package, either to reprogram
portions or fix bugs that cropped up. eMoneyServices spokesman Martin
Opatrný said this:

“Given the state of the IT department at City Hall, I do not think they
will be able to do a 100% professional job.”

A day later, it appeared the first problems had risen to the surface:
Czech Radio learned that at least one customer service centre was unable to
issue new cards on a ‘while you wait’ basis. Otherwise, the card
appeared to be fully operational, and customers were able, for example, to
recharge their Opencard as normal. Meanwhile talks with eMoneyServices can
continue: the mayor pointed out that the change in administration of the
system did not mean communication lines had been cut. There is presumably
room for a deal of some kind to still be reached, just not at the cost of
500 million crowns the firm had sought for the rights to the system.

“If negotiations show there is no way forward on this card, users will
get another.”

Meanwhile, eMoneyServices has pressed preliminary charges against both
City Hall and the Prague Transit Company, for alleged breach of contract,
so even if both sides are to continue negotiations, each is apparently
trying to weaken the other side’s position or to put it another way,
soften them up ahead of talks. Another potentially useful tool? A quick
poll commissioned by eMoneyservices, which found 63 percent of cardholders
were happy with their Opencard. The future of the Opencard is certainly
doubtful but it is too soon, apparently, to declare the system dead.